It warned high waves of up to 10 metres (33ft) could hit islands and the Pacific coast near Tokyo, while up to 50cm (20ins) of rain is expected in some areas in the next 24 hours.

More than 2,000 people in the central Mie prefecture have been told to evacuate their homes, while residents in the capital have been urged to stay indoors, although Jelawat is not now expected to pass through the city.

Dozens of high-speed train services have been suspended across the country and some 500 flights cancelled.

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Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "It is not a typhoon anymore. As it hit mainland Japan a few hours back it became a tropical storm ... but it is still bringing some torrential downpours of rain ... so flooding still possible and landslides.

"There will still be a lot of damage as it moves through the country, even though it is losing its intensity."